U.S. patent number 5,237,159 [Application Number 07/731,529] was granted by the patent office on 1993-08-17 for electronic check presentment system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to J. D. Carreker and Associates. Invention is credited to George B. Anderson, Harry B. Drollinger, Daniel R. Mills, Richard A. Sherman, Thomas S. Stephens.
United States Patent |
5,237,159 |
Stephens , et al. |
August 17, 1993 |
Electronic check presentment system
Abstract
An Electronic Check Presentment System provides a bank with a
fully automated capability for participating in the electronic
exchange of check data. It allows banks that utilize the system to
take MICR data that has been obtained through check capture
methods, selectively extract particular check records and place
them in the form of electronic cash letters, transfer the
electronic cash letters to selected banks, receive electronic cash
letters from other banks, reconcile the electronic cash letters
against the paper cash letters when they arrive, and input the
electronic MICR data into a database responsible for maintaining
check records.
Inventors: |
Stephens; Thomas S. (Addison,
TX), Anderson; George B. (Freehold, NJ), Mills; Daniel
R. (Los Angeles, CA), Sherman; Richard A. (Marlboro,
NJ), Drollinger; Harry B. (McKinney, TX) |
Assignee: |
J. D. Carreker and Associates
(Dallas, TX)
|
Family
ID: |
24939912 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/731,529 |
Filed: |
July 17, 1991 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/30; 235/379;
705/42; 705/45 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q
20/02 (20130101); G06Q 20/04 (20130101); G06Q
20/042 (20130101); G06Q 20/0425 (20130101); G06Q
20/108 (20130101); G06Q 40/12 (20131203); G06Q
40/02 (20130101); G07F 7/0866 (20130101); H04L
29/06 (20130101); G06Q 20/14 (20130101); H04L
69/329 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06Q
40/00 (20060101); G07F 7/08 (20060101); G06Q
20/00 (20060101); H04L 29/06 (20060101); H04L
29/08 (20060101); G06F 015/30 () |
Field of
Search: |
;364/401,406,408
;235/379 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
UNISYS, Brochure, 2 pages describing "V Series Item Processing
System Tape Input/Output Module.".
|
Primary Examiner: Shepperd; John W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hubbard, Thurman, Tucker &
Harris
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A check presentment system for use by a bank within an
organization of banks to improve clearing of checks presented
between partner banks within the organization, the system
comprising:
means for capturing check information from paper checks collected
by a presenting bank and storing the information in a first
database;
customer information file means for maintaining in a central file
records on each partner bank participating in an electronic check
clearing organization, the records including fields for storing an
endpoint identification, and parameters relating to electronic
check clearing;
data processing means responsive to the customer information file
means, the data processing means extracting from the first database
check information for check items to be presented to a selected
partner bank in response to an endpoint identification of the
selected partner bank and forming an electronic cash letter data
file means, including check information, summary balances and
information for identifying the particular cash letter; and
electronic means for transmitting the electronic cash letter to a
partner bank for presentment of check items by means of the check
information in the electronic cash letter.
2. The check presentment system of claim 1 further comprising:
electronic means for receiving an electronic cash letter
transmitted from a partner bank;
data preprocessing means responsive to the customer information
file means for validating the partner bank, the data preprocessing
means further balancing the electronic cash letter and formatting
the electronic cash letter for providing check information to the
means for capturing check information; and
data processing means for reconciling check information received
from the partner bank in the electronic cash letter against check
information received in a paper cash letter sent by the partner
bank that corresponds to the electronic cash letter.
3. The check presentment system of claim 2 further comprising data
processing means for controlling and maintaining records related to
the transfer and receipt of the electronic cash letters.
4. The check presentment system of claim 1 wherein the data
processing means forms the electronic cash letter with a field that
indicates whether the check item is a return notice item.
5. The check presentment system of claim 1 wherein the data
processing means forms the electronic cash letter with a control
record that indicates whether a check item is a returned check
item.
6. The check presentment system of claim 1 wherein the data
processing means extracts killed items from a plurality of kill
bundles; and wherein the electronic cash letter further includes a
summary information for each kill bundle.
7. The check presentment system of claim 1 wherein the records on
each partner bank include field for dates and time information
relating to presentment of electronic cash letters between the
presenting bank and each partner bank.
8. A check presentment system for use by a bank within an
organization of banks to improve clearing of checks presented
between partner banks within the organization while utilizing
preexisting check processing systems, the system comprising:
a check processing and capture system (CPCS), the CPCS
including:
means for magnetic ink charter recognition (MICR) for capturing
check information from paper checks deposited by customers and
received from a partner bank;
data processing means for processing check information, the CPCS
being modified to receive electronic check information; and
mass data storage file means in which the captured check
information is stored;
data processing means for electronic check presentment, the data
processing means including:
file means for maintaining records on partner banks, the records
including data identifying partner banks and parameters for
electronic check presentment;
send module means for extracting from the CPCS mass data storage
file check information for transmission to a partner bank using
identifying parameters from the file means, the send module
formatting extracted check information according to a predefined
format to form an electronic cash letter; and
receive module means for preprocessing an electronic cash letter
received from a presenting bank in order to provide for validation
and balancing of the electronic cash letter, the receive module
means providing the check information in the electronic cash letter
to the CPCS for processing; and
electronic communication means, coupled to the data processing
means, for sending to and receiving from partner banks electronic
cash letters.
9. The check presentment system of claim 8 wherein the send module
means further provides for generating expected benefits report.
10. The check presentment system of claim 8 wherein the receive
module means further reconciles an electronic cash letter received
from a presenting bank with a corresponding paper cash letter
received from the presenting bank.
11. The check presentment system of claim 8 wherein the receive
module means further generates an item sequence number cross
reference file for cross referencing a first item sequence number
assigned to each electronic check item when an electronic cash
letter is captured by the CPCS with a second item sequence number
assigned to a corresponding paper check item during subsequent
capturing of the paper cash letter.
12. An electronic check presentment system for managing, sending
and receiving check information in the form of cash letters to and
from banking systems, the system comprising:
means for selecting check information for extraction from a
designed database containing said check information wherein the
selection specific comprises a specific bank or endpoint and a cash
letter time;
means responsive to said selecting means for extracting said
selected check information in the form of electronic cash
letters;
means for transmitting and receiving said electronic cash letters
to and from other computer databases handling such check
information;
means for reconciling the transmitted electronic cash letters
against captured paper cash letters, wherein the reconciliation is
accomplished by comparing the electronic cash letters against
captured paper cash letters to determine discrepancies, and
reporting any discrepancies to the electronic check presentment
system; and
means for controlling and maintaining records related to the
transfer and receipt of said electronic cash letters, such
information comprising routing transit numbers of the banks
utilizing the electronic check presentment system, and dates and
times related to specific transfers of electronic cash letters.
13. The electronic check presentment system of claim 12 further
comprising:
means for reporting summary information related to the transfer of
electronic cash letters, such information comprising the number of
checks contained in specific bundles, the total dollar amounts
associated with specific cash letters and bundles, the total dollar
amount associated with the transfer of electronic cash letters to
and from specific end points, and the dates and times associated
with the transfers of specific electronic cash letters.
14. A method for managing, sending and receiving check information
in the form of electronic cash letters to and from banking systems,
the method comprising the steps of:
capturing paper cash letters in electronic cash letter form and
storing them in a computer database;
selecting specific banks or endpoints that are to receive
electronic cash letters, the selected banks or endpoints being
provided by an on-line computer database that provides information
on banks utilizing this method such as the names, addresses, phone
numbers, routing transit numbers and contacts associated with
selected banks;
extracting from said database those cash letters associated with
said selected banks;
transmitting to said selected banks the extracted cash letters;
receiving electronic cash letters from transmitting banks and
storing them in a computer database; and
reconciling said electronic cash letters against captured paper
cash letters.
15. The method for managing, sending and receiving check
information in the form of electronic cash letters of claim 14
including the additional step of reformatting the extracted cash
letters into a predetermined format prior to transmission to the
selected banks.
16. The method for managing, sending and receiving check
information in the form of electronic cash letters of claim 11
wherein the step of reconciling the electronic cash letters against
captured paper cash letters is accomplished by comparing the
electronic cash letters against captured paper cash letters to
determine discrepancies, and reporting said discrepancies to a
computer system responsible for said reconciliation.
17. A method for use by a bank in an organization of banks to
reduce the time for payment on checks collected by it and presented
to a bank within the organization for payment, the method
comprising the steps of:
maintaining an information file for partner banks in an
organization of banks, the information file on partner banks
including maintaining data identifying the banks and benefit
sharing parameters;
capturing check information from paper checks collected at the bank
and storing the check information in a first database as check
records;
selecting an endpoint bank from the information file;
extracting from the first database check records for the selected
bank;
formatting according to predetermined format the extracted check
records into an electronic cash letter for transmission to the
selected bank.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of maintaining an
information file further includes the step of maintaining data on
communications parameters.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of selecting includes
the step of building from the information file end-points from
which to select killed bundles for extraction.
20. A method for use by a bank in an organization of banks to
reduce the time for payment on checks collected by it and presented
to a bank within the organization for payment, the method
comprising the steps of:
maintaining an information file for partner banks in an
organization of banks;
capturing check information from paper checks collected at the bank
and storing the check information in a first database as check
records:
selecting an endpoint bank from the information file;
extracting from the first database check records for the selected
bank;
formatting the extracted check records into an electronic cash
letter for transmission to the selected bank;
wherein the step of selecting includes the step of selecting from
the information file a bank; and wherein the step of extracting
further includes reading from a second database storing kill bundle
information with which to extract check records from the first
database for transmission to endpoints automatically selected from
the information file.
21. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of formatting includes
formatting the records according to a predetermined format.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of formatting further
includes the step of determining which check records are available
for benefit sharing.
23. The method of claim 17 further including the step of generating
a settlement report, including expected benefit sharing.
24. A method of processing an electronic cash letter received from
a bank for expedited clearing of checks, the method comprising the
steps of:
receiving an electronic cash letter file from a sending bank
containing check records;
preprocessing the electronic cash letter file, the step of
preprocessing including the steps of validating the electronic cash
letter, checking for duplicate check items, balancing dollar
amounts, and formatting for conforming to check processing and
capture system (CPCS);
capturing the electronic check records with a CPCS;
posting the check records to a demand deposit accounting
system;
capturing check information from paper checks in a subsequently
received paper cash letter corresponding to the electronic cash
letter; and
reconciling the check records in the electronic cash letter with
the captured check information and sorting the paper checks
according to DDA cycles assigned during the capturing of the
electronic check records.
25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the steps of:
assigning item sequence numbers during the capturing of the
electronic check records and the capturing of the paper checks;
and
creating a cross reference file of the item sequence numbers for
each check item.
26. A check presentment system for use by a bank without an
organization of banks to improve clearing of checks presented
between partner banks within the organization, the system
comprising:
means for capturing check information from paper checks collected
by a presenting bank and storing the information in a first
database;
customer information file means for maintaining records identifying
partner banks participating in an electronic check clearing
organization and parameters relating to electronic check
clearing;
data processing means responsive to the customer information file
means, the data processing means extracting from the first database
check information for check items to be presented to a selected
partner bank and forming an electronic cash letter data file means,
including check information and summary balances; the data
processing means generating expected benefit reporting; and
electronic means for transmitting the electronic cash letter to a
partner bank for presentment of check items by means of the check
information in the electronic cash letter.
27. A method on a data processing system for use by a bank in an
organization of banks to reduce the time for payment on checks
collected by it and presented to a bank within the organization for
payment, the method comprising the steps of:
extracting bank item records from a first database storing item
information captured from paper items collected at the bank to be
presented to a selected endpoint;
maintaining a file on the data processing system on item records
extracted; and
formating the extracted item records into an electronic cash letter
file for transmission to the selected endpoint, the electronic cash
letter including item records and summary information on the item
records.
28. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of maintaining a file
on item records extracted includes storing sequence numbers for
items extracted.
29. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of extracting includes
extracting a plurality of kill bundles and wherein the step of
formatting includes placing kill bundle control records in the
electronic cash letter file.
30. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of
maintaining an information file on partner banks.
31. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of formatting includes
associating data fields with item records in the electronic cash
letter indicating whether the item record is eligible for
return.
32. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of
maintaining an information file on banks within the organization of
banks, the information including parameters relating to
transmission of electronic cash letters to each bank.
33. A method on a data processing system for use by a bank in an
organization of banks to reduce the time for payment on checks
collected by it and presented to a bank within the organization for
payment, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving an electronic cash letter file from a sending bank
containing electronic check records;
maintaining an electronic control file containing information on
check records received in the electronic cash letter and subsequent
processing of the check records;
communicating the electronic check records in the electronic cash
letter file to a posting system;
passing the paper checks subsequently received within a paper cash
letter corresponding to the electronic check records within an
electronic cash letter through a check capture system and capturing
paper check records and placing them in an electronic file; and
reconciling by comparing the check records in the electronic cash
letter file with the paper check records captured from paper
checks, placed in the electronic file.
34. The method of claim 33 wherein the step of reconciling includes
the steps of:
updating with a data processing system electronic check records
received in the electronic cash letter with posting
information;
comparing with a data processing system the electronic check
records with the paper check records placed in the electronic
file;
updating with a data processing system matched check records with
posting information and ordering matched or unmatched check record
files in an order in which the paper checks were captured; and
passing the paper checks through a sorter in the same order of the
original passing of the paper checks through the check capture
system and sorting the paper checks into pockets according to the
posting information associated with the matched check records.
35. The method according to claim 34 wherein the step of sorting
further includes the step of sorting checks into separate pockets
according to whether the checks are identified as matched or
unmatched.
36. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of
preprocessing the electronic cash letter file, the step of
preprocessing including the steps of validating the check items
within the electronic cash letter for posting and checking for
duplicate cash letters.
37. The method of claim 33 wherein the step of preprocessing
further includes balancing the electronic cash letter.
38. The method of claim 33 wherein the step of communicating the
electronic check records to a posting system includes capturing
electronic check records with a paperless input to a check capture
system prior to posting.
39. A method on a data processing system for use by a bank in an
organization of banks to reduce the time for payment on checks
collected by it and presented to a bank within the organization for
payment, the method comprising the steps of:
selecting an endpoint for presentment of items for payment;
extracting check records to be presented to the selected endpoint
from a first database storing item information captured from paper
items collected at the bank;
maintaining a file on the check records extracted;
formatting the extracted check records into an electronic cash
letter of electronic check records for transmission to the selected
endpoint;
receiving an electronic cash letter file from a sending bank
containing electronic check records;
posting electronic check records in the electronic cash letter
file;
reconciling with the data processing system the check records in
the electronic cash letter file with check information captured
from paper checks in a subsequently received paper cash letter
corresponding to the electronic cash letter; and
maintaining a control file means on the data processing system
responsive to the steps of extracting check records and receiving
electronic cash letters, the control file means keeping track of
check records sent and received.
40. A method of reconciling an electronic cash letter that has been
posted with a subsequently received paper cash letter comprising
the steps of:
updating with a data processing system electronic check records
received in the electronic cash letter with posting
information;
passing a paper cash letter through a check capture system and
capturing check records;
matching with a data processing system the electronic check records
with the paper check records;
updating with a data processing system matched check records with
posting information and ordering matched and unmatched check record
files in an order in which the paper checks were captured; and
passing the paper checks through a sorter in the order they first
passed through the check capture system and sorting the paper
checks into pockets according to the posting information associated
with the matched check records.
41. A check presentment system for use by a bank within an
organization of banks to improve clearing of checks presented
between partner banks within the organization, the system
comprising:
electronic means for receiving an electronic cash letter
transmitted from a partner bank;
data preprocessing means for validating the partner bank, the data
preprocessing means further balancing the electronic cash letter
and formatting the electronic cash letter for providing check
information to a means for capturing check information; and
data processing means for reconciling check information received
from the partner bank in the electronic cash letter against check
information received in a paper cash letter sent by the partner
bank that corresponds to the electronic cash letter.
42. The check presentment system of claim 41 further comprising
data processing means for controlling and maintaining records
related to the receipt of the electronic cash letters.
43. The check presentment system of claim 41 wherein the system
further includes a means for capturing check information, the means
for capturing check information receiving a paper cash letter and
capturing check records; wherein the data processing means for
reconciling updates electronic check records received in the
electronic cash letter with posting information, matches the
electronic check records with the paper check records, updates
matched check records with posting information and orders matched
and unmatched check record files in an order in which the paper
checks were captured; and wherein the system further includes a
sorter for receiving the paper checks through a sorter in the order
they first passed through the means for capturing checks and for
sorting the paper checks into pockets according to the posting
information associated with the matched check records.
44. A method on a data processing system for use by a bank to
reduce the time for payment on checks collected by it and presented
to a partner bank or payment, the method comprising the steps
of:
maintaining a central information file on a data processing system,
the central information file containing information particular to
each partner bank with whom the bank engages in presenting checks
electronically, the information including routing and transit
numbers of each bank and formats of electronic cash letters
preferred by the partner bank;
extracting with the data processing system, in response to a
routing and transit number of a selected bank, bank item records
from a database storing item records captured from paper items
collected at the bank to be presented to the selected bank; and
formatting with the data processing system, in response to the
information on formatting, the extracted item records into an
electronic cash letter file for transmission to the selected bank
in an electronic cash letter format preferred by the selected bank,
the electronic cash letter including item records and summary
information on the item records.
45. The method of claim 44 wherein the central information file
includes information on any deadlines for presenting electronic
cash letters to each partner bank and wherein the data processing
system prompts extracting of bank item records for a partner bank
in response to deadlines for that partner bank.
46. The method of claim 44 wherein the central information file
includes information on profit/benefit sharing between the bank and
each of its partner banks for presentment of bank item records
electronically in an electronic cash letter; and wherein the data
processing system reports the expected benefits from presentment of
an electronic cash letter based on the profit/benefit sharing
information in the central information file.
Description
REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
A microfiche appendix containing a computer program listing was
submitted with this patent document.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of
the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark
Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all
copyrights whatsoever.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of electronic check processing,
and more specifically, to a data processing methodology and
apparatus that allows all banks that utilize this invention to
electronically transfer and receive check information.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For some time, banking institutions have handled the presentment of
checks for payment in a manual fashion. At a specified time each
day, a bank sorts all checks presented to it into bundles, with the
bundles pertaining to particular banks on which they are drawn (the
"drawee bank"). As the checks are sorted for particular destination
banks, they are gathered into batches of about 300 checks. One or
more of these batches are than aggregated for shipment to the
destination or "payor" bank. A cover letter is attached to each
shipment of checks that summarizes the contents of the shipment.
Such summary information comprises the name of the payor bank, a
number associated with the name of the drawer bank (called the
routing transit number), the number of checks in the shipment and
the total dollar amount of all of the checks in the batch. The
cover letter is termed a Cash Letter. The presenting bank then
transfers to the payor bank the "Cash Letter", which includes the
cover letter and the bundle of checks.
When the drawee bank receives the Cash Letter, it verifies that the
contents of the cash letter, i.e., the checks, agree with the
totals contained on the cover letter. The bank also determines
whether enough money exists in the payor customer's account to
cover payment of the check, and either accepts or rejects payment
of the check. The payor bank then notifies the presenting bank
regarding any balancing discrepancies or any items which are to be
returned.
The above procedure is an over-simplification of the process
established for clearing checks between banks. However, it is
sufficient to demonstrate the problems associated with such a
process. A first problem resulting from the above process is the
delay between the time a check is first deposited at the presenting
bank and the time the drawee bank accepts or rejects the check. The
payor bank has the choice of either placing a hold on the
depositing customer's bank account until it is notified of
acceptance by the payor bank, or it pays out the money to the
presenter and incur the risk that the check will be rejected by the
drawee bank.
Many banks choose not to incur such a risk, and therefore place a
hold on the presenter's bank account until it is notified that the
check has been accepted. However, the time that it takes for the
payor bank to be notified that a check has been accepted or
rejected may take as long as 7 to 10 days. The Expedited Funds
Availability Act of 1987, however, places limits on the length of
time that a bank may retain a hold on a customer's funds. In most
cases, only two days are allowed for local items, and only three
days for non-local items. These time limits can severely expose a
bank to risks of loss and fraud by forcing a bank accepting
customers deposits to release funds to that customer prior to
verification that those funds are, in fact, collectable from the
payor institution.
To overcome the problem of delay, banks have attempted to automate
the process of gathering checks into cash letters, sending and
receiving cash letters, and reconciling these cash letters against
their contents. Such attempts at automation have included the
installation of check sorter machines that scan checks at very high
speeds, and sort these checks into bundles associated with payor
banks. The sorter "reads" information contained on the checks such
as the routing transit number, the drawer's account number, the
check number and the amount of the check. This information is
stored in a line of symbols at the bottom of each check in MICR
(Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) form. Check sorter machines
have been used quite successfully and are well known in the
art.
Another attempt at automating the check process is the use of
computer systems to record and manage the information associated
with the check sorting procedure. Such computer systems interface
with the check sorter machines and allow the computer systems to
build database information associated with each check that is read.
This allows an operator of a computer system to obtain information
on checks that have been read such as the total number of checks
drawn on specific banks and the total dollars of all checks drawn
on specific banks. One such system that accomplishes this task is
the IBM CPCS (Check Processing Control System).
Although both of the above attempts have benefitted the banking
industry, they have failed to address the problem of delay
associated with the transfer of cash letters between banks. Better
transportation, overnight express, and other services have helped
to improve the transfer of cash letters, but the transfer of the
information contained in the cash letters has still been dependent
on the physical delivery of the cash letters to the drawee bank.
Such dependence on the physical transfer of the cash letters
perpetuates the delay associated with acceptance or rejection of
particular checks.
Another problem associated with the transfer of cash letters
between banks is the inability of either bank to specify, for
identification purposes, a particular check that was sorted by the
other banks system. As each check is captured on the check sorting
machines, a micro-film image is captured, and a unique "item
sequence number" is assigned by the CPCS system. The system then
maintains a database of item sequence numbers so that it can later
identify and find individual checks within the numerous rolls of
micro-film. However, since each bank assigns its own item sequence
numbers, there is currently no way for one bank to cross reference
its own item sequence number to that of another bank.
Although means have come into existence that allow for wire
transfer, or electronic transfer of funds from banks, see Deming,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,264 and Case, U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,042, these
systems have dealt with transfer of funds between a bank and an
individual user. No system to date has allowed banking systems to
electronically transfer, and control the transfer of, the large
volume of checks deposited in their institutions every day.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a way for
banks to electronically transfer cash letters and improve the delay
resulting from physical transfer.
An additional objective of this invention is to provide banks with
a method for minimizing its risk of exposure to check loss and
check fraud due to the legal limits placed upon banks for placing a
hold on the funds of their customers.
Another object of this invention is to allow a bank that utilizes
electronic check presentment to reconcile the received electronic
cash letters against the physical paper cash letters when they
arrive.
A further object of this invention is to allow both the depositing
bank and the paying bank to re-associate the item sequence numbers
assigned by both banks, and by the electronic check presentment
system, to allow for easy cross-referencing.
An additional object of this invention is to provide for electronic
check presentment without changing the existing methodology
associated with paper check presentment.
A further object of this invention is to utilize existing check
databases and check sorting machines in the electronic check
presentment process so as to minimize the impact on present check
presentment procedures.
The Electronic Check Presentment System provides a bank with a
fully automated capability for participating in the electronic
exchange of check data. It allows banks that utilize the system to
take MICR data that has been obtained through check capture
methods, selectively extract particular check records and place
them in the form of electronic cash letters, transfer the
electronic cash letters to selected banks via existing
computer-to-computer data transfer technology, to receive
electronic cash letters from other banks, reconcile the electronic
cash letters against the paper cash letters when the physical paper
items arrive, and input the electronic MICR data into a database
responsible for maintaining check records.
The Electronic Check Presentment System uses electronics to move
check information efficiently between presenting and paying banks,
and improves the collection and return processes by the amount of
time required for transportation of the checks between banks and by
allowing banks to debit customer accounts from electronically
received items. Depositing banks begin the funds collection process
by transmitting MICR line information while continuing the
presentment of the physical checks via ground and air
transportation. Checks deposited on a Monday can be presented
electronically to the paying bank anywhere in the country that same
evening. Because electronic check presentment can be completed
faster than physical check presentment, the check presentment
process can be accelerated by at least one day.
To this end, the applicant has initiated the formation of ECCHO
(Electronic Check Clearing House Organization) as a cooperative
venture to implement electronic check presentment. The organization
has designed a standard ECCHO format that mirrors a paper cash
letter with detail records (checks) and summary records (batches
and cash letters). When the presenting bank produces a paper cash
letter, it also creates an electronic cash letter from its existing
check capture files to send to the paying banks. After the paying
bank receives and captures the paper checks, it then reconciles the
paper checks with the electronic items.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an electronic check
presentment system.
FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a send sub-system for the
electronic check presentment system.
FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of an alternate embodiment of
the send sub-system.
FIG. 4A is a schematic block representation of a preprocessor for
operation in a receive subsystem of the electronic check
presentment system.
FIG. 4B is a schematic block representation of paper-less MICR
capture operation in the receive sub-system; the paper-less MICR
capture process will allow the CPCS to process electronically
received items as if they were physical paper.
FIG. 4C is a schematic block representation of ECP strip file
warehouse process in a receive sub-system.
FIG. 5 is a schematic block representation of a first paper sorting
in the receive sub-system.
FIG. 6 is a schematic block representation of an ECP reconcilement
process within the electronic check presentment system.
FIG. 7 is a block schematic representation of a second paper pass
directed fine sort operation of the receive sub-system.
FIG. 8 is a block schematic representation of an end-of-day
settlement function in the receive subsystem.
FIG. 9 is a block schematic representation of a third paper pass
directed fine sort operation of the receive sub-system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to FIG. 1, partner banks 101 are members of an electronic
check clearing house organization (ECCHO) 103. There is no limit on
the number of banks that may participate in the ECCHO. Typically,
each partner bank in the ECCHO has a check capture system 107, such
as the industry standard Check Processing Control System (CPCS) of
International Business Machines Corporation, and a demand deposit
accounting (DDA) system 109. Both are data processing systems
having various configurations well known in the art. Additionally,
when participating in the ECCHO, each bank has an Electronic Check
Presentment (ECP) System 105 that is coupled to the CPCS. The ECP
system may run on the same data processing equipment or computer
system as the CPCS or DDA. The CPCS, DDA and ECP systems are used
as follows in an electronic presentment system.
Partner banks 101A and 101B receive paper checks 111, usually
deposited by their respective customers. After their deposit, the
checks are "captured" by the CPCS, usually after the close of
business on the day they are received. The capture process begins
by passing the checks through check sorting machines (not shown).
The sorters read characters on each paper check that are printed
with magnetic ink and are provided to a magnetic ink character
recognition (MICR) system for conversion to data that is stored in
a CPCS mass data storage file, or MDS (not shown). The printed
characters are sometimes collectively referred to as the MICR line,
and the complete set of MICR-line data is sometimes called a check
"image", as it contains most of the pertinent data on the check.
The records in the CPCS MDS include fields for the routing/transit
code for the payor bank (the bank on which the check is drawn), the
account number of the customer who wrote the check, the serial
number of the check and its amount. Based on the routing/transit
number on the check, the CPCS directs the sorter to pocket the
check for the bank on which it is drawn.
At various times throughout each business day, the CPCS generates a
cash letter for each bank for which there are checks. The checks
that are pocketed for each bank are then bundled with the
respective cash letter. Collectively the checks and the letter are
simply referred to as a cash letter 113. Assuming both banks 101A
and 101B have checks drawn on the other bank, banks 101A and 101B
deliver cash letters 113A and 113B, respectively, to the other bank
via a courier 114 service that physically transports the bundle to
the respective bank.
Once the cash letter has been produced, the ECP system at each bank
prepares, using the same MICR-line data stored in the CPCS MDS data
file, electronic cash letters for each "paper" cash letter 113A and
113B that is sent. This electronic cash letter is then sent to the
respective banks, using standard communication techniques over one
or more electronic or optical data transmission networks 115.
Once received, the electronic cash letters are processed the same
day by the receiving bank's ECP system 105 and CPCS 107. Generally,
this involves having the ECP systems first perform certain
preprocessing functions, then presenting this electronic cash
letter containing the MICR information to the CPCS. The CPCS then
"captures" the items or checks in the electronic cash letter as if
they were physical paper items, and sends some or all of these
items to the bank's posting systems, such as Demand Deposits (DDA),
and etc. This called a "non-MICR" capture, as the information is
not being read by the CPCS from the magnetic ink characters on the
paper checks, but from a "non-MICR" file created by the ECP.
The couriers 114 usually deliver the paper cash letters 113A and
113B to the banks the next business day. Upon arrival, the paper
checks are placed in the CPCS sorters at the receiving banks for
capture by the CPCS system 107. After capture, the ECP system
reconciles the electronic and the paper cash letters with the MICR
line data. The checks are then handled in the usual manner by the
banks.
The forgoing is a general description of the functioning of a basic
ECCHO exchange. FIGS. 2-8 illustrate details of the ECP system.
Basically, it has two major sub-systems: 1) the Send System; and 2)
the Receive System. An additional but critical component of the ECP
system is an on-line CIF system, that is common to both the Send
and the Receive subsystems, and will be first discussed without
reference to a figure. In the preferred embodiment, the ECP is
implemented with a general purpose digital computer whose operation
is directed by a program such as the one disclosed in the
microfiche appendix submitted herewith.
The On-Line CIF System
The On-Line CIF System handles, among other things, on-line
maintenance of partner bank records, benefit sharing percentages,
and edit rules. It also provides a complete data base file list and
audit control reporting.
The majority of all benefits derived from the ECP process accrue to
the bank receiving the electronic Cash Letter. ECCHO Rules permit
each Receiving bank to negotiate benefit sharing arrangements
independently with each prospective exchange partner, to provide an
incentive to the partner for sending electronic Cash Letters to
that bank. A key element of the system, then, is the centralized
storage of each of these agreements within a single data base
file.
Additional data stored in the CIF system include fields of a
general nature that identify the name of the partner banks, the
primary contacts at the partner banks (for both sending and
receiving data) and the telephone number(s) for the primary
contacts. Data fields that are more specific are defined to include
identification numbers for the partner banks, such as
routing/transit numbers, version numbers of the ECCHO record
formats to be sent to and received from the partner banks, send and
receive cut-off times that define the target deadlines for the
partner banks, send and receive volume cut-offs that identify the
maximum number of items allowed for each banks transmission, and
send and receive cash letter maximums that define the maximum
number of cash letters allowed for transmission to and receipt from
each partner bank.
The CIF system also includes fields that pertain to profit/benefit
sharing for each of the partner banks. These fields store the
benefit percentages to be applied to the electronic cash letters
that are sent to or received from the partner banks for each day of
the week. Finally, the CIF system includes fields that are used to
maintain information relating to the partner bank's records such as
the date and time associated with the last update of the records,
as well as identification of the user responsible for the last
update.
The maintenance portion of the CIF System comprises modules for
adding, updating and deleting partner bank CIF records. The Add
function allows an authorized user to input all partner bank data
as detailed in the section discussed above. The system contains
logical edits that prevent a user from entering duplicate records
(based on record type and bank-id fields). In addition, the system
will not allow for sending data to, or receiving data from,
partners with whom such exchanges have not been authorized in the
CIF. This is determined by the ECCHO record version number. To ease
the entry of information into the Add screen, the CIF System
automatically inserts the current date, time and operator id into
each new record.
The Edit/Update portion of the CIF System prompts the user to enter
the bank identification number for the requested record. The system
then displays an edit screen, similar to the Add screen, that
contains the data for the requested bank. The system allows an
authorized user to modify all fields within the screen except the
record type, bank-id and last update fields. In addition, the
Edit/Update portion of the CIF System provides the same logical
edits and automatic entries that are available in the Add
portion.
The Delete/Undelete portion of the CIF System allows an authorized
user to mark a bank record as deleted as of a specified date. The
Delete/Undelete portion prompts the user to enter the bank-id
number for the requested record. It then displays a screen, similar
to the Add screen, containing information for the particular bank
requested. The Delete/Undelete portion allows the user to close the
account by entering an account closed date into the system. If, at
a later time, the user wishes to re-open an account, he can do so
by entering zeroes in the account closed date field.
The CIF System also includes audit reporting features that detail
the changes made to the CIF database, whether through Adds, Edits
or Deletes. The System prompts the user to enter the start date for
the report, with the end date of the report being the current
system date. The CIF system scans the CIF database and selects only
those records that fall within the date range specified by the
user. The system then formats and prints a list of all data fields
along with the corresponding changes to the data fields. In
addition to these features, the CIF System includes the ability to
print out a detail listing of all partner bank records currently on
the CIF database.
The Send System
Referring now briefly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the Send portion of the
Electronic Check Presentment System automatically handles the
selection and extraction of targeted cash letters from the CPCS
system. The Send portion may be divided into two different segments
that address the diverse requirements of the marketplace: a Basic
Send segment, which is Cycle and String based, shown in FIG. 2; and
an Enhanced Send segment, which is Cash Letter and Kill
Bundle-based, shown in FIG. 3.
Referring now to just FIG. 2, the Basic Send segment provides
on-line capability for initiating the creation, or re-creation, of
an electronic cash letter file. The cash letter file is, in
essence, a sequential file suitable for transmission to partner
banks. The Basic Send segment includes an extract module 201. The
cash letter extract module 201 segment allows the user to select a
specific destination bank, called an end point, extract all items
associated with this end point, and create an electronic file of
this data for conversion into a standard format. The user is first
prompted to enter the specific cycle to be extracted from all
cycles in the CPCS Mass Data Set 203. The extract module utilizes
the bank records, discussed in the CIF System above, to dynamically
build and display a screen containing all the bank names on file.
The user can then select a particular bank or end point for
extraction. The cash letter extract module then extracts all item
records from the CPCS Mass Data Set that correspond to the selected
end point and cycle requested. Upon extraction, the module builds
an intermediate extract file 209 that will be used by the ECCHO
format module 211. After building the intermediate file, the
extract module 201 formats and prints a paper detail report of all
extracted items, and writes a summary record to an extract control
file 207 containing the extracted end point and summary totals at
the bundle level of all cash letters extracted for electronic
transmission. The extract control file provides data for end of the
day reporting, including an expected benefits report.
The ECCHO formatting module 211 is automatically started from the
cash letter extract module after the extract module builds the
intermediate file. The module looks at the bank records in the CIF
System to determine the proper ECCHO record version number
currently in use by the specific end point bank for which the
extraction was done. It then builds an electronic cash letter file,
termed an ECCHO transmit file 213.
The electronic cash letter file in ECCHO format comprises check
detail records, file, cash letter and batch headers, and file, cash
letter and batch trailers. The check detail records include fields
for the paying banks routing transit number, the payor's account
number, the amount of the check, the item sequence number assigned
by the sending bank, and status fields that determine whether the
sending bank anticipates benefit sharing, and whether the check
being transmitted is for collection, return or return notice. The
check detail record also includes fields for storing the
depositor's account number, the originating banks routing transit
number, the date and time the cash letter was created, and the cash
letter number.
A file header exists for each electronic cash letter file. The file
header includes the ECCHO format version number for the receiving
bank, the routing transit number of the presenting bank, the date
and time the file was created, and the name of the presenting bank.
A file trailer also exists for each electronic cash letter file.
This trailer includes the total dollar amount of all check records
in the file, the total number of cash letters in the file, and the
total dollar amount of all benefit sharing records in the file.
The electronic cash letter file also contains a cash letter header
for each cash letter extracted. This header includes the routing
transit numbers of both the origination bank and the destination
bank, the date and time the cash letter was created, the date the
electronic cash letter file was created, the cash letter number,
and the name of the originating bank. A cash letter trailer also
exists for each cash letter in the file. This trailer includes some
of the information contained in the cash letter header, as well as
the total dollar amount of the cash letter.
A third header in the electronic cash letter is the batch header. A
batch header exists for each batch that was extracted from the CPCS
Mass Data Set. The batch header includes the routing transit
numbers of both the origination and destination banks, the date the
batch was processed, the bundle ID, the bundle number, and the
cycle number. A batch trailer record is also created for each batch
extracted in the electronic cash letter. The batch trailer includes
the total number of all check records in the batch, the total
dollar amount of all check records in the batch, and the total
dollar amount of all benefit sharing check records in the
batch.
In addition to the cash letter extract module, the Basic send
segment of the Send System also includes an extract re-run module
(not shown). This module allows the user to re-create a file that
has been previously extracted. Upon completing the extraction, this
module compares the results of the extraction with those of the
previous extraction. If the module detects a change in the
information obtained through the extraction, it will notify the
user that a particular data file, or string, is missing and will
identify the missing string name, bundle number, bundle amount and
item count.
The basic send segment also contains an extract re-start module
that allows the user to re-start an extract job that failed due to
a program or system problem. Upon execution by the user, the module
creates a completely new extract file for the requested end
point.
In addition to the above modules, the Basic send segment includes a
number of utilities that enhance the Send System. One of the
utilities, end of day reporting module 215, allows the user to
request the printing of a summary level report of all electronic
cash letters sent out for a specific day, along with a the
corresponding expected benefits report 217. A second utility allows
the user to delete an entire entry from a previous extract
file.
Referring now to FIG. 3, the Enhanced Send segment of the Send
portion of the Electronic Check Presentment System extends the
functionality of the Basic Send segment to include the capability
of extracting at the cash letter bundle level and ensures that the
paper cash Letter and the electronic cash letter are exact
duplications of one another. The enhanced send segment includes
modules and files that are functionally similar to those of the
basic send system: CIF file 205; CPCS Mass Data Set file 203;
extract control file 207; intermediate extract file 209; ECCHO
formatter 211; and ECCHO transmit file 213.
An enhanced cash letter extract module 301 allows a user to select
a specific bank and a specific cash letter time, and extract all
killed items for this cash letter. The extract module functions
similarly to the one in the basic send segment except that, after
the user has selected a bank to be extracted, the user is prompted
to enter the cash letter time which will identify the kill bundles
to be extracted. The module will then read the CPCS kill bundle
file 303 to select records which match the requested cash letter
time. The selected records provide pointers into the CPCS Mass Data
Set Strings, which are used to extract all item records for the
corresponding kill bundle. The module then creates an intermediate
extract file 209, which is processed through the ECCHO formatter
211 module as in the basic send segment.
The enhanced send segment includes a utility that allows the user
to generate an end of day benefits summary report which is a
summary level report of all electronic cash letters sent out for a
specific day along with the corresponding expected benefit amounts.
This utility prompts the user to enter the requested cycle for the
report then extracts the data for the requested cycle and formats
the information for printing.
The Receive System
Referring briefly to FIGS. 4A-8, a Receive System verifies,
processes, and monitors the receipt of electronic cash letters from
partner banks. It handles the automated entry of non-MICR data into
CPCS and the follow-up reconciliation of the electronically
captured items to the actual physical paper items. The Receive
System comprises five modules: an input file preprocessor; a CPCS
non-MICR input processing module; a reconciliation module, an image
match/directed fine sort module; and an end of day reporting
module.
Referring now to FIG. 4A, the input pre-processor module is a batch
process that is either manually started, or auto-started from the
transmission receive job. Its function is to balance and pre-edit
an incoming ECCHO transmit or electronic cash letter file 213 from
other partner banks.
The pre-processor module 401 reads the presenting banks routing
transit number contained in the file header record of the
electronic cash letter file and validates this number against the
routing transit numbers contained in the receiving banks CIF file
205. The validation determines whether the sending bank is a valid
sending partner, and whether a send agreement between the two is
currently in force. If the sending bank is validated in both of
these respects, the pre-processor continues to process the
electronic cash letter file.
Upon receipt and validation of each electronic cash letter file, a
record for each file is created in a receive control file 403. The
record comprises data associated with the electronic cash letter
file such as the name of the file, the date and time the file was
created, the total number of entries in the file, and other
information pertaining to file, bundle and cash letter totals. This
information is updated as pre-processing of the electronic cash
letter file continues.
The electronic cash letter file is then checked for duplicates, at
the file level, the cash letter level, and the bundle level by
searching the records in the receive control file for matching
creation dates and times, matching cash letter numbers and matching
kill bundle identification codes and kill bundle numbers. If any
duplicate cash letters exist, they are bypassed during
processing.
After checking for duplication, the pre-processor 401 balances the
electronic cash letter file at the bundle level, the cash letter
level and the file level. For balancing at the bundle level, the
total number of all check records in the batch are balanced against
the check record count extracted from the batch trailer. The total
dollar amounts of all check records and all benefit sharing check
records in the batch are also balanced against the check record
count extracted from the batch trailer.
The file is balanced at the cash letter level by comparing the
total number of batch check records, the total dollar amount of all
check records, and the total dollar amount of all benefit sharing
records, that are extracted from the cash letter trailer with those
amounts calculated by the pre-processor upon examination of the
individual check images.
The pre-processor balances the electronic cash letter file at the
file level by comparing the total dollar amount of all cash letters
and the total number of cash letters in the file with the
associated information contained in the file trailer. The
pre-processor then prints a balancing report that lists, by cash
letter, all out of balance batches, cash letters and/or files.
The pre-processor will then reformat the incoming file into a CPCS
MICR format file termed a "non-MICR" file 405 to differentiate from
a MICR file that is created from capturing of paper checks. This
non-MICR file includes fields that specify cycle codes,
post/no-post codes and pocket codes. If then prints a block
building report that assists the data prep/block building clerk in
assembling the physical paper batches in the proper order for
subsequent capture of the paper items.
Referring now to FIG. 4B, after pre-processing, the non-MICR input
file 405 provided to the CPCS for a process termed paper-less MICR
capture. To perform this process, a preexisting CPCS system is
modified so that it is "tricked" into thinking that the items
presented by electronic cash letter are paper items. The CPCS
captures and processes electronic cash letters as if they were
normal paper cash letters, and all captured electronic items are
assigned a second item sequence number by the CPCS.
Illustrated are standard CPCS modules 407, each of which having
processes well known in the art. Very briefly, the DKNMICR modules
409 includes all of the modules for interfacing with sorters for
MICR capture and sorting. The OLRR SCI module 411 "edits" or checks
the MICR line data for each item provided by the DKNMICR modules
for validity (e.g. the routing/transit number and account number).
Module 413 formats the MICR data for the item and assigns the item
a pocket code for DDA or other posting system processing. This MICR
data and the pocket code are written to an "all-items" I-String
Information file 417, which is a mass data storage (MDS) file, in
step 415. At merge step 419, the I-String Information file is
converted to an M-String data file 421, by, in essence, stripping
all control documents from the file. The CPCS extract module 423
then extracts the data necessary for posting to DDA or other
posting systems.
For working with the ECP system, only the DKNMICR module 409 of the
CPCS is substantially modified. One modification allows a Station
Control Block to be defined for an electronic cash letter sorter.
The function indicates that an electronic cash letter sorter has
been defined so that the CPCS system can generate the necessary
control blocks for the electronic cash letter. Another modification
adds references to the electronic cash letter extensions for the
station control block and the MICR control table. The CPCS program
is also modified to look for a run started on an electronic cash
letter sorter. Upon detection, it passes control to the new
electronic cash letter initialization module that loads the OLRR
edits and retrieves a tracer number from the receive control file
417. When the electronic cash letter sorter run has been
initialized, MICR task processing continues as if processing a
normal paper run.
Receive control file 417 is updated with balance summaries of the
items processed from the electronic cash letter during the run by
the DKNMICR modules 409 for cash letter balance control.
Upon completion of the non-MICR processing run, an ECP strip file
425 is created by an ECP strip file processing module 427. This
module creates a flat file of the non-MICR input items in I-string
sequence and DIIMAGE format. The strip file creation module also
creates a balance summary of the items entered in the ECP strip
file 425 for error checking against the summary in receive control
file 417.
Referring now to FIG. 4C, on the next day (day 2), the ECP strip
file must be updated with information about whether there were
items excepted in the DDA the night before and not posted, as well
as the proper cycle information for each item that was posted. To
create an updated ECP strip file 429, a pocket update module 431 in
the ECP system matches each item in the EPC strip file 425 with
corresponding DDA cycle for the item in DDA cycle file 433 and with
any exceptions for the item in DDA exceptions file 435.
Referring now to FIG. 5, after the paper cash letter is received,
it is sorted in a conventional manner, without modification, by the
CPCS of the partner bank in what is termed the first paper sort.
Paper items 501, the checks, are unbundled and fed throughout the
MICR capture and sort system 503. The capture of the paper cash
letter produces a MDS I-String file 505, which is then merged at
step 507 into an MDS M-string file 509 that will be used as an
input into a reconciliation sort module. Captured items 511 are
gathered, as they will be used in a second paper pass (see FIG. 7).
Items rejected 513 in the MICR capture are reentered manually into
the I-String file 505. All captured paper items are assigned a
third item sequence number by the CPCS.
Referring now to FIG. 6, after the first pass, the paper items are
reconciled with the electronic items received the previous day by
electronically matching the two data files in the sort/match module
601. The sort/match module sorts through the ECP strip file 429 in
order to match ECP strip file with the MDS M-String file 509 and
merge the pocket codes from the strip file into the M-string file
to produce a MDS D-String file 605. It then produces a full report
602 in account number and item sequence number sequence, and
additionally produces a missing item/free item report 603. A
missing/free report 603 details any missing paper items for which
there was an electronic item, and any extra paper items for which
there is not a corresponding electronic item.
Referring now to FIG. 7, the paper items 501 are once again passed
through the CPCS system for pocketing the paper items. A directed
fine sort module 701 matches the image of the electronic item in
the D-String file 605 with the actual paper item as it is re-read
by the electronic sorter, and directs the paper item to the
appropriate pocket as dictated by the pocket code in the D-String
file 605, and is further described below. The directed fine sort
module assumes that a pocket code is present for each item in the
electronic cash letter D-string. Thus, only paper items for which
the corresponding electronic cash letter images have completed DDA
processing are able to be directed to a pocket by the directed fine
sort; all other unmatched items are considered free, or extra items
and are directed to an unmatched pocket. Additionally, to
facilitate matching of the paper items to the electronic items, the
D-String file 605 is utilized, since these records are in the same
physical sequence as the actual paper items from the first paper
pass.
The updated D-string file (containing the new pocket codes) directs
the fine sort module, which in turn directs the sorter (not shown),
to place matched paper items 703 to a pocket. The matched posted
items are pocketed by statement cycle, the matched exception items
are pocketed by exception code, the physical rejected items are
sent to a reject pocket, and the unmatched (free) items are sent to
an unmatched pocket. All rejected items 705 are fully reprocessed
until only the actual unmatched items remain. These items are then
batched and re-captured on the electronic sorter along with all of
the bank's other first time capture work. The matched items are
transferred to bulk file vaults or exception processing as
appropriate.
The directed fine sort module expects that the D-String file 605 be
in the same physical sequence as the paper items after the first
paper pass. If the paper items are accidently dropped, or otherwise
become out of sequence between the first and the directed fine
sort/second paper pass, an optional third paper pass is then
provided to read the paper items in their current order, to
re-order the D-String file 605 to match the new paper sequence, and
then perform the directed fine sort.
Referring now to FIG. 8, an end-of-day settlement module 801 reads
the ECP receive control file 417 and produces an end of day or week
or month settlement report 803 by bank, for all electronic cash
letters received and processed through the electronic check
presentment system. Additionally, an item sequences cross reference
report is produced, listing the three item sequence numbers
associated with each item: the Sending Bank ISN, the Electronic
ISN, and the paper ISN. Optionally, an item sequence cross
reference file can also be produced, for interface to various other
look-up and retrieval systems.
The above described system has shown to provide an improved
electronic check presentment system that allows all banks that
utilize this system to electronically transfer and receive check
information, reconcile this information against actual paper check
processes, and manage information associated with electronic check
presentment such as cash letter, bundle and file totals, unmatched
records/paper and benefit sharing amounts.
The above described arrangement is merely illustrative of the
principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and
adaptations thereof will be readily apparent to those skilled in
the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention as set forth in the appended claims.
* * * * *